Method and apparatus for scrubbing a soiled surface with a segment of corrugated or crumpled substrate such as metal foil

ABSTRACT

A method and hand grip for use when scrubbing a greasy or badly soiled surface with a segment of corrugated or crumpled substrate such as metal foil. The metal foil can be commonly available aluminum foil wrap. The hand grip has a handle that carries a substantially planar support bounded by a distally projecting short perimeter wall to define a shallow volume, and the planar segment includes a plurality of distally, outwardly projecting piercing elements such as pointed sheet metal screws dimensioned and spaced to pierce and hold a crumpled wad of foil within the shallow volume, such that the randomly creased or corrugated surface of the foil is exposed, projecting distally away from the proximal handle.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This application claims priority to the filing date of U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 60/543,938, filed Feb. 13, 2004, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to methods for cleaning greasy or badly soiled surfaces, and to methods and structures for holding and using media for scrubbing such surfaces.

DISCUSSION OF THE PRIOR ART

Bar-b-que aficionados enjoy using outdoor grills for cooking, but cleaning the grill can be a cumbersome and filthy chore.

A number of devices including special metal brushes have been used to solve this messy problem, but often create problems of their own. Typically, metal brushes have been used to clean bar-b-que grills and other metal surfaces. Prior art bar-b-que cleaning brushes have sharp bristles that can be painful, and the brushes must be replaced as the bristles become loose or bent. Metal brushes used to clean food preparation equipment also pick up and accumulate grease and burnt food items. The interior bristles can be hard, if not impossible, to fully clean, making the brushes an ideal gathering place for bacteria and rancid grease. Users will often dispose of such brushes solely because of their unsanitary and ugly appearance.

It can be seen that a need exists for a scrubber including a suitable cleaning media and a handle to hold the cleaning media that is effective, comfortable and easy-to-use. The handle must retain the cleaning media and overcome the problems of the prior art.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the present invention, a method and hand grip is provided for use when scrubbing a greasy or badly soiled surface.

A metal foil such as aluminum foil is a surprisingly effective cleaning agent when used on metal articles. Crumpled or corrugated aluminum foil can remove corrosion from metal, such as from a ship's hull. It can also clean deposits on a metal surface. One example would be the grease that builds up on a bar-b-grill used to prepare food. Aluminum foil is also fairly inexpensive when used as a cleaning media and can be disposed of easily. It is effective at cleaning metal surfaces particularly because it is pliant so that it molds to the surface being cleaned. Unlike a metal brushes, aluminum foil does not contain sharp bristles that might injure a user. There are no sanitary or aesthetic issues as a user simply disposes of the foil when necessary. Aluminum foil can be used to clean a large number of surfaces. However, it can be hard to hold when used for scrubbing. This is particularly true if the user is cleaning a hot surface. When cleaning agents are involved, user's don't want to touch the cleaning agents.

In order to address these concerns, the scrubber or hand grip of the present invention supports a segment of corrugated or crumpled substrate such as metal foil. The metal foil can be commonly available aluminum foil wrap. The hand grip preferably has a proximal bail or handle that carries a substantially planar support bounded by a distally projecting short perimeter wall having a transverse flange. The planar support and peripheral wall define a shallow volume enclosed on five sides, and the planar segment includes a plurality of distally, outwardly projecting piercing elements such as pointed sheet metal screws or molded plastic spikes dimensioned and spaced to pierce and hold a crumpled wad of foil within the shallow volume, such that the randomly creased or corrugated surface of the foil is exposed, projecting distally away from the proximal handle.

In use, a segment of metal foil or some other flexible substrate is preferably gently crushed and loosely wadded or crumpled by hand to provide a randomly crumpled, creased or corrugated scrubbing solid. The user then forces the scrubbing solid onto the hand grip's distally projecting piercing elements to at least partially fill the hand grip's shallow volume, leaving a distally exposed scrubbing surface. The loosely crumpled scrubbing solid may be folded around or behind the distal wall's transverse flange. The user then holds the hand grip by the proximal handle and scrubs a soiled surface with the distally exposed scrubbing surface of crumpled foil, gathering soil from the surface in the folds of the scrubbing surface. Once the surface is clean, or once the foil's fold's are full of soil, the user then grasps and removes the soiled scrubbing solid from the hand grip, whereupon the soiled scrubbing solid is discarded or, optionally, cleaned and recycled.

In the preferred embodiment, a handle is provided that comprises a section to be gripped. The handle is attached to a planar support having an opposing, distal recessed area that is constructed to retain the aluminum foil. The recessed area is essentially a squarish, shallow cup or pan shaped holder. The handle is attached proximally, opposite the distal opening to the cup. Six or more distally projecting piercing elements, such as pointed sheet metal screws, extend from the bottom of the cup towards the opening of the cup.

The hand grip of the present invention can be fabricated from plastic or metal components and can be assembled from four or more components including a handle or bail affixed to a planar supporting cup-shaped member, where a plurality of screws, nails, tacks, spikes, brads or other piercing elements project distally from the planar surface of the planar support. Alternatively, the handle, support and piercing elements can be formed as a unitary piece, in a single mold.

In use, a length of aluminum foil is compacted and inserted into the cup. The user can either push the foil onto the piercing elements or apply the handle and foil to a surface to be cleaned. The pressure exerted to clean the surface will force the foil onto the piercing elements. The grip is comfortable to the user and protects the user from hot surfaces, cleaning agents, or the like. The foil is simply pulled out of the cup when the user wishes to dispose of it.

The above and still further features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent upon consideration of the following detailed description of a specific embodiment thereof, particularly when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals in the various figures are utilized to designate like components.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view, in elevation, of a hand grip carrying a crushed or crumpled segment of metal foil to provide a scrubbing solid media, in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a proximal or handle-side view, in elevation, of a hand grip adapted for carrying a crushed or crumpled segment of metal foil, in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a partial cross sectional view, in elevation, of the hand grip of FIG. 2, taken along section lines 2-2, in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a distal or scrubbing solid media support side view, in elevation, of a hand grip adapted for carrying a crushed or crumpled segment of metal foil, in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a partial cross sectional view, in elevation, of the hand grip of FIGS. 2-4 illustrating the retention and support for the scrubbing solid media, in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a partial cross sectional view, in elevation, of the hand grip of FIGS. 2-4 illustrating the application of the scrubbing solid media against a soiled surface, in accordance with the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Turning now to the embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 1-6, scrubber or hand grip 10 supports a segment of crushed, corrugated or crumpled substrate configured to provide a scrubbing solid 22 for use as a cleaning or scrubbing media. The substrate is preferably made from a resilient, pliable and durable material sheet or web such as metal foil. The metal foil can be commonly available aluminum or aluminum alloy foil wrap.

Hand grip 10 preferably has a proximal bail or handle 12 that carries a substantially planar support 14 bounded by a distally projecting short perimeter wall 16 terminating in a radially projecting transverse flange 17. Support 14 and wall 16 define a shallow volume 18 enclosed, preferably, on five sides (as best seen in FIGS. 3 and 4). Planar support segment 14 includes a plurality of distally, outwardly projecting piercing elements 20 such as pointed sheet metal screws or molded plastic spikes dimensioned and spaced to pierce and hold a crumpled wad of foil 22 at least partially within the shallow volume, such that a plurality of randomly creased or corrugated surface segments of the foil are exposed, projecting distally away from the proximal handle 12.

Distally projecting piercing elements 20 are shown, in the illustrative embodiment as screws, but nails, tacks, spikes, brads or other piercing elements, preferably with pointed distal ends, will also serve to pierce the scrubbing solid 22 and hold the scrubbing solid in place against the hand grip's support.

The applicant has discovered that this combination of structural elements, namely, handle 12, support surface 14, the distally projecting peripheral wall 16 terminating in transverse radially projecting flange 17 defining a cup-shaped shallow volume 18 and piercing elements 20 are particularly effective in stabilizing scrubbing solid 22 when scrubbing against a soiled surface 24.

Crumpled foil scrubbing solid 22 provides a plurality of creases or folds 28 (best seen in FIGS. 1 and 5) to collect and hold grease or soil, when in use as a scrubbing media.

In use, the segment of metal foil or some other flexible substrate is preferably crushed, wadded or crumpled by hand to provide the randomly crumpled, creased or corrugated scrubbing solid 22. The user then forces scrubbing solid 22 onto the hand grip's distally projecting piercing elements 20 to at least partially fill the hand grip's shallow volume 18, and, optionally, wraps a peripheral portion of scrubbing solid 22 around wall flange 17, as shown in FIG. 5, leaving a distally exposed scrubbing surface with randomly distributed creases or folds 28. The user then holds hand grip 10 by proximal handle 12 and scrubs a soiled surface (e.g., surface 24, as shown in FIG. 6) with the distally exposed scrubbing surface of crumpled foil, gathering soil 26 from surface 24 in the folds 28 of the scrubbing surface. Once the surface is clean, or once the foil's fold's 28 are full of soil 26, the user then grasps and removes the soiled scrubbing solid 22 from hand grip 10, whereupon the soiled scrubbing solid is discarded or, optionally, cleaned and recycled.

In the preferred embodiment, handle 12 comprises a section to be gripped, and is attached to planar support 14 opposite the distal recessed area (e.g., within peripheral wall 16) constructed to retain the aluminum foil solid 22. The recessed area, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, is essentially a squarish, shallow cup or pan-shaped holder. Handle 12 is attached proximally, opposite the distal opening to the cup. Six or more (e.g., eighteen, as shown) distally projecting piercing elements 20, such as pointed sheet metal screws, extend from the bottom of the cup towards the opening of the cup.

Hand grip or scrubber 10, in accordance with the present invention, can be fabricated from plastic or metal components and can be assembled from four or more components including a handle or bail affixed to a planar supporting cup-shaped member, where a plurality of screws, nails, tacks, spikes, brads or other piercing elements 20 project distally from the planar surface of the planar support. Alternatively, handle 12, support 14 and piercing elements 20 can be formed as an integral, unitary, one-piece structure, preferably in a single mold.

In use, a selected length of aluminum foil sheet is preferably crushed, corrugated or compacted and inserted at least partially into the cup's shallow volume 18. The user can either push the foil onto piercing elements 20 (and wrap a portion around flange 17) or can simply drop the scrubbing solid 22 onto the soiled surface 24 and then apply the hand grip 10 against foil scrubbing solid 22 and press both against soiled surface 24. The pressure exerted to clean surface 24 forces the scrubbing solid 22 onto the piercing elements 20 and flange 17 provides an additional bearing surface to compress scrubbing solid 22 against surface 24. Grip 10 is comfortable to the user and protects the user from hot surfaces, cleaning agents, or the like. The scrubbing solid 22 is simply pulled out of the cup when the user wishes to dispose of it.

While the invention is described herein with reference to illustrative embodiments for particular applications, it should be understood that the invention is not limited to the illustrated embodiments. Those having ordinary skill in the art and access to the teachings provided herein will recognize additional modifications, applications and embodiments within the scope thereof and additional fields in which the present invention would be of significant utility.

For example, handle 12 can be configured to carry a non-planar surface supporting a plurality of piercing elements, since support surface 14 need not be planar. Additionally, distally projecting peripheral wall 16 defines a cup shaped shallow volume 18 in the illustrated embodiments, but a combination of wall segments and piercing elements can be used to stabilize the scrubbing solid against supporting surface 14, for use when vigorously scrubbing.

As the figures illustrate, the present invention provides a handle that comprises a section to be gripped attached to a recessed area that is constructed to retain aluminum foil. The recessed area is essentially a cup. The handle is attached opposite the opening to the cup. A number of piercing elements extend from the bottom of the cup towards the opening of the cup. All the components can be formed in a single mold or assembled from separate components.

The substrate is described as crumpled, but any complex surface providing ridges, creases, corrugations or folds to trap and hold soil or grease when scrubbing is suitable, in accordance with the present invention.

The forgoing description of the invention is necessarily of a detailed nature so that a specific embodiment of its best mode is set forth. Having described preferred embodiments of a new and improved method and apparatus, it is believed that other modifications, variations and changes will be suggested to those skilled in the art in view of the teachings set forth herein. It is therefore to be understood that all such variations, modifications and changes are believed to fall within the scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims. 

1. A hand grip adapted to releasably support a cleaning media for use in scrubbing a soiled surface, comprising: (a) a proximally projecting bail or handle carrying a support having a distal surface; (b) at least one wall segment projecting distally from said support's distal surface; and (c) a plurality of distally projecting piercing elements, said piercing elements projecting distally from said support's distal surface and spaced from said wall segment.
 2. The hand grip of claim 1, further comprising a crushed sheet of resilient, pliable material, said crushed sheet deformed to provide a plurality of corrugations, creases or folds on an exterior surface, wherein said crushed sheet defines a scrubbing solid; and wherein said scrubbing solid is pierced by and releasably carried on said hand grip's piercing elements, adjacent said hand grip's wall segment, to provide a distally exposed scrubbing surface including a plurality of corrugations, creases or folds.
 3. The hand grip of claim 2, wherein crushed sheet comprises a crushed segment of metal foil.
 4. The hand grip of claim 3, wherein crushed sheet comprises a crushed segment of aluminum foil.
 5. The hand grip of claim 3, wherein crushed sheet comprises a crushed segment of aluminum alloy foil.
 6. The hand grip of claim 1, wherein said wall segment projecting distally from said support's distal surface comprises a peripherally positioned wall segment, proximate a peripheral edge of said support's distal surface.
 7. The hand grip of claim 6, wherein said wall segment projecting distally from said support's distal surface comprises a peripheral wall segment projecting from the entire periphery of said support's distal surface.
 8. The hand grip of claim 1, wherein said piercing elements comprise a plurality of spaced apart distally projecting pointed elements, each spaced apart from said wall segment.
 9. The hand grip of claim 1, wherein said handle, said support, said wall segment and said piercing elements are molded in an integral, unitary, one-piece structure.
 10. A handle adapted to carry and support a releasably supported crumpled solid of aluminum foil, comprising: a grip to be held by a user; a cup, said cup attached to said grip, said grip being opposite the opening to said grip; a plurality of piercing elements located within said cup; and wherein a length of aluminum foil can be inserted and removed from said cup, said piercing elements acting to releasably secure said aluminum foil.
 11. The handle of claim 10, wherein said grip, said cup and said piercing elements are molded in an integral, unitary, one-piece structure.
 12. A method for cleaning a soiled surface, comprising the method steps of: (a) providing a proximally projecting handle carrying a support having a distal surface; (b) providing at least one wall segment projecting distally from said support's distal surface; (c) providing a plurality of distally projecting piercing elements, said piercing elements projecting distally from said support's distal surface and spaced from said wall segment (d) crushing a sheet of durable, resilient, pliable material to make a scrubbing solid having a plurality of creases or corrugations on an exterior surface; and (e) forcing said scrubbing solid onto said piercing members; whereby said scrubbing solid is releasably supported on said distally projecting piercing elements to provide a distally exposed scrubbing surface.
 13. The method for cleaning a soiled surface of claim 12, further comprising the method steps of: (e) grasping said proximally projecting handle; and (f) scrubbing the soiled surface by pressing said distally exposed scrubbing surface against said soiled surface, thereby forcing soil from said soiled surface into said scrubbing solid's corrugations.
 14. The method for cleaning a soiled surface of claim 13, further comprising the method step of: (g) removing the soiled scrubbing solid from said distally projecting piercing elements.
 15. The method for cleaning a soiled surface of claim 14, further comprising the method step of: (h) crushing a second sheet of durable resilient, pliable material to make a second scrubbing solid having a plurality of creases or corrugations on an exterior surface; and (i) forcing said second scrubbing solid onto said piercing members; whereby said second scrubbing solid is releasably supported on said distally projecting piercing elements to provide a second distally exposed scrubbing surface. 